2026 Combined Offense and IDP Rookie Draft, Part One

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The 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has concluded. We have helped you out with our rankings and mock drafts for dynasty leagues up to this point. If you are specifically interested in IDP players, check out our combined rankings or some of our breakdowns of the draft. In this two-part article, I’m giving you an offense and defense combined dynasty rookie draft breakdown. I am going to select players based on my overall rankings of rookies and where I would select them if I were choosing at each draft position. If I’m higher or lower than consensus on a player, I will point that out. I am giving you a combined offense and defense five-round dynasty rookie draft. This draft assumes a 12-team league with a superflex position, one point per reception, and a tight end premium of .5 points. On defense, I’m assuming you are starting five positions: DT, DE, LB, S, and CB. We are assuming a tackle-heavy system with IDP 1-2-3 scoring for big plays and takeaways. The 2026 NFL Draft has some very good offensive talent at the top of the draft, but it becomes very murky as the draft moves along because of less ideal landing spots and draft capital. On the defensive side of the ball, this is a fantastic class with studs in some of the most important positions. And unlike on the offensive side of the ball, the IDP players had great draft capital and, in some cases, even better landing spots. This looks like one of the best off-ball linebacker classes in years with a slew of edge rushing talent. On offense, quarterback and running back are thin, which is pushing some players at those positions up fantasy draft boards because of scarcity. Wide receiver and especially tight end are sneaky deep this year. There is also some of the best safety talent we have seen in years. I’m making these picks based on my overall rankings and where players are currently being taken. But as always, make sure to make adjustments for your specific league scoring and for any team needs you might have. Let’s get to it with part one. Round One 1.01: Jeremiyah Love , RB ARI Love is the consensus top pick for 2026 in all dynasty formats. The Cardinals selected the former Notre Dame star with the third overall pick in the NFL Draft. He should immediately step into the starting running back role in Arizona with aging veteran James Conner taking a backseat along with newly signed Tyler Allgeier . This would also seem to signal the end of any chance of Trey Benson , who was a third-round pick in 2024, from taking over the RB1 role. Love should be considered a top-five dynasty RB asset moving forward. 1.02: Fernando Mendoza , QB LV Las Vegas traded Geno Smith to the Jets after one year in Sin City, opening the door for the Raiders to draft Mendoza with the number one overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Raiders brought in Kirk Cousins to likely mentor Mendoza, but this should be his team moving forward. Mendoza has some weapons at his disposal with Ashton Jeanty at running back and Brock Bowers at tight end. The wide receiver group will need to prove itself as it is young and inexperienced. Mendoza is likely the second pick in superflex dynasty drafts but shouldn’t fall farther than sixth off the board in any league that isn’t a 1QB format. 1.03: Carnell Tate , WR TEN The Titans needed a viable top receiving threat for last year’s top overall pick QB Cam Ward , so they went out and got their man in Tate with the fourth-overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Tate should hav…